18 Mar 2012

Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B Click here for all content for this cycle Fourth Sunday of Lent, Cycle B

SUNDAY SUMMARY

2 Chronicles 36:14-16, 19-23 The historical account of Israel ends with the destruction and restoration of Jerusalem.
Psalm 137:1-2, 3, 4-5, 6 Hope for Jerusalem, long-lost city of God, dominates the thoughts of those in exile.
Ephesians 2:4-10 It is grace that saves us: a free gift from God that permits no room for pride.
John 3:14-21 Nicodemus, the stealth disciple, is entrusted early with the ultimate purpose of Jesus.

Expand Sunday Readings

The inner word

What’s in your heart?

The readings this week point to the importance of recognition--and the consequences of not recognizing. Did the Israelites recognize the prophets God sent them?

Exploring the word

The verdict is in

There’s no more peculiar history than the Bible presents as the story of Israel. From start to finish we find more dubious characters than ever gathered in the works of bicentennarian Charles Dickens.

Homily stories

Final justification

"BY GRACE you have been saved through faith." Oh, if only the church had listened more carefully to those words from the Letter to the Ephesians!

Prayers

Penitential Act & Prayer of the Faithful

God loves us and wishes only to save us. We pray with confidence in God's compassion.

Homily themes

Notes on the text

"The light came into the world, but people preferred darkness to light." All the readings this week speak of the importance of choices and their consequences.

Sign & sacrament

Joy for the sinner

The Fourth Sunday of Lent is known as Laetare Sunday--laetare is Latin for "joy."

Quotes

You know quite well, deep within you, that there is only . . . a single power, a single salvation . . . and that is called loving. --Hermann Hesse (1877-1962)

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